TOFFEES who make the short trip to Anfield for Jamie Carragher’s testimonial today will have at least one reason to smile.

I WAS not surprised that Everton, unusually by their recent standards, did not do some late business in the summer transfer window.

The rules of eligibility for national representation are, as you would, expect, quite clear, and whenever people criticise nations such as the Republic of Ireland for ‘expoliting’ them, it is grossly unfair.

JOSEPH Yobo may have departed Everton on an initial loan deal but seasoned observers of the club would be surprised to see him back in a blue shirt.

THERE was a time that the Super Eagle goal celebration synonymous with African footballers was a regular sight at Goodison Park – usually after Ayegbini Yakubu had made the net bulge.

ANOTHER transfer window closes with the girls at the club shop who print names on shirts relieved they have no new exotic spellings to get their heads around.

SYLVAIN DISTIN believes Everton can handle the pressure of raised expectations this season despite struggling to find their rhythm in the Premier League so far.

FOR a man who made 259 Everton appear- ances, who enjoyed the distinction of being David Moyes’ first signing and who captained the first team as recently as last October, Joseph Yobo’s fall from grace has been both swift and dramatic.

FOR a man who made 259 Everton appear- ances, who enjoyed the distinction of being David Moyes’ first signing and who captained the first team as recently as last October, Joseph Yobo’s fall from grace has been both swift and dramatic.

SOMETIMES, just sometimes, the life of a footballer doesn’t seem to be the greatest career a man could live. And yesterday’s Echo back page revealed one such moment.

SPIRITS were low after the opening day defeat at Blackburn and the disastrous second half against Wolves, but I honestly think there was no need for gloom after the Aston Villa result.

PHIL JAGIELKA has received the backing of Fabio Capello as he prepares to stake his claim for a regular starting place in the England team.

EVERTON have comfortably met the new Premier League rules after submitting 21 names in their official squad list.

MIKEL ARTETA’S dreams of playing for England are destined to end in disappointment.

LOUIS SAHA has revealed how blood-sucking leeches have helped to ease his long-standing knee injury.

ONE goal in three league games is a pretty pitiful record, and maybe it’s ironic that I think the solution to our goalscoring problem is to drop the only player who has scored in the league for us this season!

Everton have comfortably met the new Premier League rules after submitting 21 names in their official squad list. The large number of English players at Goodison and the youthful nature of David Moyes' squad means all of the Blues' registered players will be eligible for action.

SINCE the transfer window was introduced in 2003, the final day of activity has become increasingly hyped out of proportion.

I’VE known Howard Webb for a long time and had to laugh when I saw his comeback game after the World Cup was refereeing a Sunday League cup game between Thrybergh Working Men’s Cub and Wickersley Social.

I HAD to watch the entire Aston Villa defeat twice on telly before it even began to sink in. How Everton lost a game in which they had 67% possession and 18 corners away from home I will never really understand.